Material-elevating apparatus



June 30, 1925. l 1,544,278

B. s. sNow MATERIAL ELEVATING APPARATUS Fiied sept. 29, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 1 Juneo, 1925. 1,544,278

. B. S. SNOW MATERIAL ELEVATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 2 (Ea-7" 022 /Zza,

@WM e Cil Patented clune 3Q, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

BARTON S, SNOW, OF BATAVIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO T. W. SNOW CONSTRUCTION CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MATERIAL-ELEVATING APPARATUS. y

Application led September 29, 1922. Serial No.' 581,285.

To all wlw/m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BARTON S. SNow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Batavia, in the county of Kane and State ot Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in li/laterial-Elevating Apparatus, of which the following is a speciication.

Wy invention relates to apparatus of the general type commonly used Jr'or elevating material such as, for example, coal, from a hopper into which the material is dumped from railway cars located on tracks above the hopper, into a storage bin above the tracks, from which the material ispermittcd to discharge as, for example, into the tenders of locomotives, this type of apparatus comprising a vertically-operating bucket or skip for elevating the material into the uppermost hopper, and poweroperated cable means 'for operating the bucket.

My primary object, generally stated, is to provide a novel, simple and positivelyoperating apparatus oi" the character stated which will operate, the more satisfactorily to perform, t-he functions for which such apparatus is provided.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an enlarged elevational view ot the lower part ot apparatus embodying my invention, with certain parts sectioned, this view showing, by full lines, the position occupied by the parts cooperating with the bucket when the bucket is ata certain point intermediate the limits of its travel, and by dotted lines the positions assumed by these parts when the bucket is in filling position. Figure 2 is a section taken at the line 2 on Fig. l and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figure 3 is a plan sectional view taken at the irregular line il ou F 1 and viewed in the direction oi: the arrows. Figure 4 is a section taken at the line 4 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and Figure 5, a broken view in sectional elevation of a portion of the apparatus showing the measuringreceptacle forming a part thereof, in the position it occupies for discharging its contents into the bucket.

The apparatus shown comprises a pit structure, represented generally atV 6, which extends below the level at which the tracks,

represented at 7 and on which the cars containingthe material to be elevated are run, extend, this pit being shown asopeninginto a hopper located at the upper portion of the pit. rIhe tracks 7 are shown as extending across the top of the hopper 8, and the opening through which the ho-pper communicates with the pit and which' forms the outlet of the hopper atl the lower end of the latter is represented at 9.v i y Extending at its lower end into the pit 6, and rising therefrom to any desired height, is a superstructure, the lower portion only of which is shown.y By way of example and in accordance with common practice,vv this superstructure may comprise a hopper, not' shown, for receiving the material elevated from the hopper 8, as hereinafter described,and equipped with means (not shown) for controlling the discharge or the material from the uppermost hopper as desired, as for example into the tenders of locomotives located below the uppermost hopper.` The framework referred to provides the support and guiding means for a vertically movable bucket or skip, represented at 10 and provided for the purpose of elevating material 'from the hopper8 to a position in which it discharges into the uppermost hopper. This last-referredto portion-of the framework is provided at its opposite sides with pairs of vertical bars 11 and 12 spaced iapart to provide guides for the bucket 10, the latter to this end being provided with a cross-bar and studs 13 and 14respectively, which extend into the channels 15 provided Abetween the bars referred to. The bucket 10 is of a construction' commonly provided in apparatus of this general type,.this bucket being provided with a bail 16 pivotally connected at its lower end with the under side of the bucket.

The bucket 10 is raised and lowered in the guideways referred to, in any desirable manner, as is' well understood in the art, it being common practice to provide cable means which are represented in the drawing at17 vand are shown as connected with the upper end ofy the bail 16, these cable means being connected with windlass mechanism not shown. Where a single bucket 10 is employed it is preferred that a counterw'eight (not shown) .beprovided Y 2 Y' v 1,544,278

entretenuei1 is in the ettaripositronk for cooperation therewith to partially connteibalanrcel the vloaded l'iiicket.` Where, however, a pair 'of the buckets are employed which operate in opposite directions, in accordance with arrangements commonly provided, the rcoiinte'rweightf ina-yor may not be dispensed with, as desired.

Cooperating with the'l'iopperr and lo'-` cated at the outlet 9 thereof, is vmechanism for receiving a charg tro-in this hopper and dumping'thesaine into the bucket 10 fshowh Fig; 1i, a Adescription'ot thismechaisiii being as tollows.; The mechanism referred comprises a charge-receiving re ceptacle 18fwhich may be of general rectangiilarform" with yits top open, the lower portioiifot the `front wall of the receptacle cona discharge opening represented rat 19. Thereceptacle ,18, provided` at its lower, end with a pairotarclshaped rocker f barsQQO'which arelocatedfat opposite sides oft the 4recep.tacle 143 andare rigidly secured thereto, whereby these rockeibars are spaced apart as shown. The bai-s2@ are preferably of angle shape 'iii cross-section, one ofthe f liaii'gesg'Zl'ot each of` which, and at` which the receptaclelis supportedE on a track hereii'i'a'ftefr` referred.' to, containing a series ot yequidistandy-shaped' openings 22, therein.

The vreceptacle 18,'b`y reason of the provi'- sion, of the rockers 20, is ot a type adapting itftorl'ie` rocked or rolled along a 4support `trema position in which it receives acharge from the hopper 8 through theV discharge 9, this position being represented by full lines in Fig. 1, to a position in which the contents tliereot' discharges through the4 outlet Y19,'

this" position being represented by dotted Vlines in said figure. vThe track `tormiiig the support for the receptacle 18, and upon which the latter rocks, is shown as Jiorined opt a' pair of rails '273, extending/parallel with each other inr spaced-apart relation, these railsy being shown as supported upon a trame 24e rigidly secured atene end inV wall of the pitV Gand projecting therefrom into 'the pit toward thev path ot movementot tliebucket 10,theftrainework referred to being shown as formed ot a' pair of vbeams 25 extending in parallel relation and connected'together at their outerends byra cross-bar 26. ,The rails -23 are spaced apart the saine distance as the rockers 2O and each is provided with alseries or upwa-rdiy-extendingA pins 27 equidi'st-aiitly spaced apart the same distance kas the openings 22, the parts just referred yto Ybeing so'constr'ucted vand arranged as shown ,that in the rolling ot the receptacle 18 upon the track, the pins 271 are caused to successivel extend into the oaenindsf 22. therebyr Y Y l :s v

opeiatingrto prevent lateral displacen'ient Y ofthe receptaclev 18 upon the track, without nting any obstruction to theV rocking e' ieceptacle'on the track. `Y Cooperating with the outlet 19 ot the receptacle is'an apron device which serves primari-ly as a means for directing the contents of the receptacle 18 into the bucket 10 when the latter is in filling position. The apron des vice referred to, and `which is represented 1 generally at 28, is of general U-shape in cross-section', it being pivotally connected -with the receptacle 18, as represent-ed at 29,

which is movable up and down inguidewaysV locatedy at opposite sides ot the pit and torined by the 'uprights'll and uprightbars 36 located closely radjacenty thereto, .butA spacedthereirom. l Thecross-bar 34 extends directly beneath thebu'cket 10 and into'a position in which the latter in the final por;

tion ot its lowering movement tojtilling` position, engagse this cross-bar and forcesit downwardly as, and for the purposes, hereinafter described.V The other cor-y responding ends `ot the cables 31A extend aroundv'sheaves 37 journaled on a stationary ypart ot the structure'V at oppositey sides ot' the receptacle 18, these ends of the cables thence extending forwardly toward the bucket and over sheaves Y38 iouriialedA at opposite sides of the bucket on a stationary part of the structure, the lower extremities of4 these ends of the cables being connecteck respectively, with counterweights S9 which exert a Ytorce tendingto` rock the receptacle 18 toward the lett in Fig. 1. Y n

Means, cooperating with the receptacle 18, are provided for closing the hopper outlet 9 in the movement of the receptacle 18 to bucketfiilling position, to avoid discharge of material from the bin into the pit, 'these means comprising a gate device,"represented generally atdO and shown .as in the form or a framework formed ot the side members 41 i which are pivotedat. their forward 1ends on a bar l2 located below the Vframework 24 and extending upwardly between the Vbars 25, and a i curved cross-plate 43 connected with the opposite ends ofthe Varms 41 and ot a width preferably slightly greater than the widthoi:

the opening 9 in alignment with which itY extends. Y Y y pivotallysupported device, cooperates with,

rlhe gate device 40 which is thus a means wherebyv it is caused to automatically move into a position in which it closes the outlet 9 to the discharge of materialtherethrough, in the moving of the receptacle 18 toward the dotted position shown in Fig. 1 and into a position in which it opens the outlet 9 to the flow of material therefrom and into the receptacle 18, in the movement of the latter to the full line position shown in this ligure, these means comprising a pair of weights 111 which are connected with the lower ends of cables l5 which extend over sheaves 46 journaled on a stationaryY portion of the structure at opposite sides of the pit, and thence extend downwardly to the gate structure 40 connecting with the latter at opposite sides thereof, as represented at 11'?, the weights 1141 thus operating to maintain the gate device 40 in engagement with the receptacle 18 within the limits represented by the full line and dotted line positions of the gate device l() in Fig. 1, regardless of the position occupied by the receptacle 18.

The operation of the apparatusv is as follows: V1`he normal position occupied by the mechanism which delivers the material from the hopper 8 to the bucket 10, is that represented by full lines in Fig.- 1 wherein the receptacle 18 is in communication at its open, upper, end with the hopper 8 through the outlet 9, in which position of the receptacle the latter is charged with a predetermined amount of material from the hopper the gate device L10 being held in the depressed condition by engagement with the receptacle 18. As the bucket 10 in descending nears the limit of its downward movement, it engages the crossbar 84 with the result of drawing on the cables 31, whereby the receptacle 18 is rocked on thetrack 28 from the full line position, represented in Fig. 1, to the right in this figure, and by the time the bucket 10 has reached the dotted position shown in Fig. 1, the receptacle 18 will have been moved to the dotted position shown in this ligure during which movement the apron device 28 swings on the receptacle 18 from the full line position represented in Fig.` 1 to the dotted line position represented in this figure in which it extends at its lower edge over the bucket 10 and'directs into the latter the material which discharges from the receptacle 18 through its outlet 19. It will be understood that in the rolling of the receptaf cle 18 to the dotted line position shown in 1, the gate device l0 is caused to automatically move to a position in which it closes the hopper outlet 9. In the rising movement of the filled bucket 10, the weights 89 are permitted to operate and thereceptacle 18 rocks from the dotted position shown in Fig. 1 to the full line position shown therein, the gate device 10 in this movement being` forced against the action of the weights 4:5 to the full line position shown in this figure. As the apron device 28 extends, in the lowermost position of the bucket, over the upper edge of the latter, the bucket, in rising, rocks this apron upon its pivot 29 to ra position wherein the weighted portions construct-ed anc. arranged that the re eptacle 18 will tend to roll, at all times, to the left in Fig. 1, though suc'h an arrangement is not necessary in so far as certain of the features of my invention are concerned.

lt will be understood that the weights 39. should be sufliciently heavy not only to insure the return of the receptacle 18 to the full line position shown in Fig. 1, but also to actuate the gate device 40 to the full line position 4shown in this ligure, against the action of the `weights t. rlhe weights 39 are shown as provided solely for the purpose just stated. However, other means may be provided for this purpose, as for example where the apparatus involves a counterweight for the .bucket,'moving in opposite directions relative to the latter, such counterweight maybe caused to perform in addition to its usual function, that performed by the weights 89.

lVhile 1 have illustrated and describeda particular construction embodying my invention, 1 do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto, as the samemay be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

'Wha-t- 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v 1. Material elevating apparatus, comprising in combination, a hopper, a bucket for elevating material located adjacent said hopper, a support, a receptacle engaging said support for receiving material from ysaid hepper for discharge` into said bucket, said receptacle being between said hopper and bucket and bodily movable along saidsupport from said hopper toward said bucket and tiltable into a position for discharging its contents into said bucket.

2. Material elevating apparatus, comprising in combination, a hopper, a bucket for elevating material located adjacent said hopper, a support, a receptacle for receiving material4 from said hopper for discharge into said bucket, said receptacle being between said hopper and bucket, and having a curved.supporting surface at which it is supported on, and bodily rollable along, said ysupport from a position in which vit receives a-,charge from said hopper to. a position in which it discharges into said bucket. l

8. Material elevating apparatus, comprising in combination, a hopper, a bucketA for elevating material located adjacent said hopper, a support, a'receptacle engaging said supportfor receiving material from said hopper for-dischargeinto said bucket,

said receptacle beingqbetween said hopper and bucket and kbodily movable along said 'support from said hopper toward said Vbucket and tiltable into aposition ifo-relischarging its contents intosaid bucket, andl means operating in timed? relation to the movement ot said bucket for moving. said receptacle into a position in which its conv tents .may be dischargedv into the bucket.

4.. Material-elevating apparatus comprising, in combination', a hopper, a bucket for elevating the material, a support, areceptacle for? receiving material from said hopper, 'for discharge into said bucket, said.

Vrece tacle beine' mounted on said suo ort to be bodily movable along the latter toward and away from said hopper and `tilted into material-discharging position, andk means vmovably supported on said receptacle for y directing. thel material thereirom.

5;' Material-elevating. apparatus comprismg,.1n combination,- ahopper, a bucket for elevating the material, a support,a receptacle for receiving material'from sai-d hopper,=or. discharge into said bucket,V saidV receptacle being mounted onV saidV hopper to be bodilyinovable along the latter toward and away ILQIIL Saidhopper. adtilted. intomaterial-,discharging position, and means operating automatically in timed relation to the movement of said bucket, to move said receptaclefrom a position in which it Areceives a charge from the hopper into a position for discharging its contents into said bucket When the latter is in chargereceiving position.

`6. Material-elevating apparatus comprising, in combinatioma hopper, a bucket for elevating lthe material, a support, a receptacle forl receiving material from said hopper., for discharge into said bucket, said receptacle being mountedon said support to be bod-ily movable along the latter toward and 'away from said hopper and tilted into material-discharging position, and means operated by saidlbucket for actuating said .be :bodily movable along the latter toward and away from said hopper and tilted into material-discharging position, and means V operated by said ,bucket for moving said receptacle from charge-receiving tof -discharging position.

,'8. yMaterial,-elevating apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper, a bucket for elevating themateriafl, Va support, a receptacle for receiving material fromsaid hop-Y pe r,='for discharge' into said bucket, saidY be bodily movable aiong the VVlatter toward' and away from said hopper and tilted intoI material-discharging position, means operi ated .by said bucket for moving said-receptacle intoV discharging. position,` andI mechanism yieldinfgrly resisting movement of saidi receptacle outof fill-ing position and'operative to return. said receptacle to iflling position. f

9. Material-elevating apparatus comprising, `in. combination, a hopper, a bucket for elevating the material, a support, a receptacle for receiving material from said-'hop-y per, for discharge into said bucket, said? receptacle being mounted on said support to be bodily movable thereon toward andaway :from said hopper and tilted into materialdischarging position, cableand Weight mech-- anism for moving said receptacle towardv receptacle-filling position, and r-neansoperated by said bucketvtor moving saidI receptacle toward. receptacledischarging position.

material-discharging` position, means Inovably supported on sai-d receptacle fordirecting the lmaterial from said receptacleV into said bucket, and means operated' by said bucket for actuating said` receptacle, said tiret-named means being operated toward receptacle-closing position by said bucket.

1 V1l. In material-elevating apparatus', the combination of a hopper, a bucket for elevating the material, a support, a Ireceptacle ltor receiving material from said hopper,

said receptacle having a curved supporting surface at Which it is 4 supported on, and bodily rollab'le along, said support from material-receiving to material-discharging position, means for closing'the out-let of said hopper, and meansroperated by said bucket 'for actu-ating said receptacle. Y

12. Material-elevating apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper, a bucket'tor elevating the material, a support, a receptacle for'receiving material 'from said hopy per, for discharge into said bucket, said receptacle having a curved supporting surface 13. Materiai-elevating apparatusv comprisi ing, Vin combination, a hopper, a bucket for f elevating the materia-l, a support, a receptacle for receiving material from said hopper, for discharge'into said bucket, said receptacle lhaving va curved supporting sur tace at which it is supported on, and bodily rollable along, said support, and means operating automaticallv in timedrelation to the movement of said bucket, to move'said receptacle into a position tor discharging its contents into said bucket when the latter is in charge-receiving position.

14:. Material-elevating apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper, a bucket tor elevating the material, a support, a receptacle tor receiving material trom said hopper, tor discharge into said bucket, said receptacle having a` curved supporting suriace at which it is supported on, and bodily rollablc along, said support, and means operated by said bucket for actuating said receptacle.

l5. Material-elevating apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper, a bucket for elevating the'material, a support, a receptacle tor receiving material from said hopper, tor discharge into said bucket, said receptacle having a curved supporting surface at which it is supported on, and bodily rollable along, said support, and means opY erated by said bucket tor moving said receptacle to discharging` position.

16. Materi(al-elevating` apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper, bucket 'tor elevating the material, a support, a receptacle tor receiving material from said hopper, tor discharge into said bucket, said receptacle having a curved supporting` surtace at which it is supported on, and bodily rollabl-e along, said support, means operated by said bucket ttor moiy o said receptacle to discharging position and mechanism yieldingly resisting movement oit said receptacle out ot tilling position and operative to return said receptacle to 'trilling position.

o 17. Material-elevating appara-tus comprising, in combination, a hopper, a bucket tor elevating' the material.` a support, a receptacle 'tor receiving material from said hopper, tor discharge into said bucket, said receptacle having a curved supporting surtace at which it is supported on, and bodily rollable along, said support, cable and weight mechanism for moving said receptacle toward receptacle-iilling position, and means operated by said bucket for moving said receptacle toward receptacle-discharging position.

18. Material-elevating apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper, a bucket for elevating the material, a support, a receptacle for receiving material from said hopper, for discharge into said bucket, said receptacle having a curved supporting surtace at which it is supported on, and bodily rollable along. said support, means movably supported on said receptacle Jfor directing the material from said receptacle into said bucket, and means operated by said on said receptacle and controlling the outlet thereof, a movably Jsupported gate device, means tending to move said gate device to a'position in which it closes said hopper outlet, said gate device extending into the path of movement of said receptacle and being movable out ot hopper-outlet-closing position' by the movement of said receptacle in returning to filling position, and cable mechanism'engag'ing saidreceptacle, said cable mechanism including a member which extends into the path ot downward movementl ot said bucket and through the medium of which said receptacle is moved to discharging position, said cable mechanism including weight means operating to return said receptacle to lilling position and said gate device to a position in which said'hopper outlet is open in the upward movement of said bucket.

20. In material-elevating apparatus, the combination ot a hopper having an outlet, a receptacle supported to receive material from said hopper through said outlet and movable away from said outlet to discharge position, a gate tor closing said outlet, and means for yieldingly holding said gate in" a position Yt'or closing said outlet, saidgate I extending into the path otmovement of said receptacle and being movable thereby out of closed condition in the movement of said receptacle to a position 'for receiving material from said hopper, said gate automatically moving to closed position when said receptacle is moved out of materialreceiving position.

21. In material-elevating apparatus, the combination of a hopper having an outlet, a receptacle supported to receive material from said hopper through said outlet and movable awa-y from said outlet to discharge position and provided with a cutting edge which cuts through the material, a gate tor closing said outlet, and means for causing said gate to move to closed position in the movement of said receptacle out of filling position, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the forward edge of the gate extends below said cutting edge and moves substantially in the same path as the edge of the receptacle which cuts throughthe material.

22. In material-elevating apparatus, thel .combination 0f a hopper having an outlet,

' movable away from said outlet to discharge position and provided .with a .cutting edge which cuts-through the material, a pivotally supported gate for `closing said outlet, and' means for causing said gatevto .move to closed position in the Inovementtofv said receptacle out of fillingl position, the parts beings@ constructed and arranged `that ,the forward edge of the gate extends below said cutting edge and ,moves substantially in the same path ast-he edge ofthe receptacle which cuts through the material. c

v23.1'In neaterial-,elevating apparatus, the combination of ,a hopper having an ,outlet, a (receptacle supported to receive material frein said hopper :through said 'outlet Yand movable ,away from said outlet to discharge position, agate for closing said outlet, and f means for yieldingly lholding said gate in a position for closing ysaid outlet,fsa1d gate extending into the path ofmovement of said receptacle and being movable thereby out 'of closed condition in ,the p movement ofV said receptacle to a po-sitionrfor receiving material Vfrom'said hopper, said ygate automatically moving to closed position when said receptacle is moved outof material-,receiving position, the parts being so constructed Vand arranged that the forward edge of the gate moves substantially in the same -path as the edge of the receptacle which cuts through the material. f' f 24. In material `elevating apparatus, the

combination of a hopper, a support, and a `receptacle Aengaging said support for receiving material from said hopper, said recep- Y tacle being mounted to be bodily movable along said support toward yand away from said hopper and tilted into material-discharging position, said `receptacle having separate lling and discharging openings.

BARTON S. SNOW. 

